Preaching the Eternal Gospel

In September 1950, my father was conducting a Crusade in Portland, Ore. Thousands were born again as they responded to the preaching of the Gospel, but as the final evening approached, God was also at work giving birth to the ministry that would soon become the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.

My father had met briefly that day with two gentlemen from Philadelphia who felt strongly that he should go on the radio to proclaim the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. After listening to their proposal, my father thought for a moment and said, “All right fellows, if before midnight tonight I should get $25,000 for the purpose of a radio broadcast, I’ll take that as an answer to prayer and be willing to do a national broadcast.”

At the Crusade that night, my father alluded to the request, and afterward he was amazed to see that the audience of 17,000 had given $24,000 for a radio ministry. Still, that was $1,000 short. When he returned to his hotel room, he found two letters awaiting him postmarked two days earlier. They each contained $500 from businessmen who believed my father should go on radio and preach the Gospel.

To handle the funds and launch the radio ministry, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association was chartered just a few days later in Minneapolis, Minn., where my father was president of Northwestern Schools.

Since then, the BGEA has proclaimed Jesus Christ as “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6) to millions of people around the world. Through Crusades, broadcasts and other means, we have preached the Gospel of salvation through repentance and faith in Christ. For six decades, the message has never changed—all people are sinners in need of a Savior.

We always have been and always will be an evangelistic ministry. That means we proclaim the Good News of salvation at every turn, always inviting those who listen to turn from their sins and come to saving faith in Jesus Christ. As one well-known preacher has said, “There is no proclamation without an invitation, and no invitation without a proclamation.”

The Gospel of Christ alone can deliver from the power of sin, the captivity of Satan and the grip of eternal death. As the Holy Spirit uses the preaching of the Word, that bondage is broken and those who believe become new creations in Christ. Is there anything more wonderful and glorious?

As my father nears his 92nd birthday this November, he thanks God for the ways He continues to use BGEA to lead men and women to faith in the Lord. Our World Evangelism Through Television My Hope project has seen millions saved in dozens of countries as believers invited their unsaved friends and family into their homes to hear my father and me preach on TV. Our Rock the River youth events have seen thousands of young people receive Christ as Savior and Lord as I have the opportunity to present the Gospel several times throughout the day.

The Bible says in the Book of Revelation that as Christ is about to return an angel flies in the heavens with “the eternal gospel to proclaim to whose who live on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language and people” (Revelation 14:6). The angel announces to all, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water” (Revelation 14:7).

By God’s grace, we have had the privilege and responsibility of proclaiming that everlasting Gospel for 60 years. By His grace, and the power of His Spirit, we will continue to be faithful to preach Christ crucified and risen for as many days as He sovereignly gives us.

As I looked at Billy Graham's video I was led by the Holy Spirit to join this Ministry in Prayer. Intercession for the salvation of those who haven't received the Lord Jesus Christ yet in their lives. We're all in this together.

OH! THAT, WE COULD LET OUR LIGHT SHINE, THAT ALL WHO SEE IT WOULD WANT WHAT WE HAVE. BEEN A CHRISTIAN SINCE I WAS 9, I AM 72 NOW, STILL LOVE THE LORD JESUS I SHARE HIS TESTIMONY ANY WAY I CAN. GOD BLESS YOUR MINISTRY

I thank God that I know him as my Father and for people like you and your father to proclaim the Good News. I may never see you on this earth but I look forward to seeing you very soon in heaven when we all meet our Lord.

I went to Billy Graham's convention in Bangor, Maine when I was 13; he ministered to several hundred souls in search of an answer to quench the thirst of that question that pulls at one's soul …..”through all I'm living with and questioning about my life, what/who will love me unconditionally and understand ME” …I found my answer when my heart stirred and tears washed my soul deeply. I yearned to know more about the Man, Jesus Christ….. Through Mr. Graham, the Holy Spirit was talking to my heart, saying many wonderful things to soothe me. I am 62 years young (not perfect but forgiven) and with God, all things are possible…I look forward, not backwards, enjoying each new day with Him.

Yes, God is good! I pray that God gives your Dad the strength to preach again live, and that your ministry, Franklin, remains powerful–all for God's glory. May our hearts remain strong and pure before God, in Jesus' name.

Amen, Brother Graham! There is no doubt in my mind that the 2nd coming of our Lord Jesus Christ is extremely close at hand! I feel the Lord blessing you and your wonderful father to help the Gospel reach around the world, “and then shall the end come”! I continue to pray and support this blessed ministry! Jesus is LORD, and God bless you!